Resist: A Story of D-Day

“Quick and quiet as a fox, Samira jumped the two steps up to the doorway and darted into the small sliver of shadow where the Nazis wouldn’t see her.”

This quote uses a simile to compare Samira’s stealth and quickness to those of a fox, emphasizing her agility. The use of the diction “small sliver of shadow” highlights how she skillfully blends into her surroundings, reinforcing her resourcefulness and the tense environment she’s navigating. The imagery relates to the theme of Resilience and Resistance Against Oppression, showing Samira’s ability to act in dangerous situations, while also symbolizing her desire to remain unseen by oppressive forces.

“The surprise of finding him here had sent Samira’s heart into her throat, but Cyrano had already decided he liked the boy and was licking his arm with enthusiasm.”

The hyperbole of Samira’s heart jumping into her throat conveys the shock and fear she feels, demonstrating her emotional state in a tense moment. Cyrano’s joyful innocence contrasts with Samira’s tension, a subtle symbolic gesture representing hope amid the chaos. The dog’s reaction is an expression of loyalty to the French Resistance. This scene offers a rare moment of levity during a time of hardship.

“High up in the sky behind the soldiers, Samira saw the black silhouettes of half a dozen parachutes against the bright full moon. The invasion. Soon these German soldiers would have lots more to worry about, but for now, Samira had to save herself and the boy in the doorway.”

The imagery of “black silhouettes” and a “bright full moon” contrasts darkness with light, symbolizing the duality of war: the looming threat and the possibility of liberation. The punchy phrase “[t]he invasion” directly signals the turning point of D-Day, representing the hope for Allied victory and the shifting power dynamics.